Not Sure If College Is the Right Path for You? Consider Skilled Trades

• Alex Nicolescu
• August 25, 2026
• Media Article

College isn’t the only path to a rewarding career. Explore skilled trade opportunities in agriculture and discover how hands-on training can help you build valuable skills for your future.

---

For many years, attending college or university has been seen as the traditional step after graduating from high school. But this path may not be for everyone, and that’s okay! Do you enjoy working with your hands, solving problems, and staying active? Then a career in the skilled trades might be the perfect position for you!

 

Learn While You Work

A big difference between the skilled trades and a traditional college pathway lies in how you learn. Instead of constantly sitting in classrooms all day, many trades offer apprenticeships or other hands-on training opportunities that allow you to work on developing your skills while still gaining real workplace experience.

 

If you learn best through experiences and hands-on training, this can be especially appealing. Working in trades allows you to work alongside experienced professionals, develop practical skills, and see how what you're doing applies to real-life situations.

 

Skilled Trades Are Essential to Agriculture

When most people think about careers in agriculture, they imagine plowing fields and working with livestock. However, there are also many skilled trades workers who are working behind the scenes to ensure that the agriculture and food industries keep moving.

 

Greenhouses, modern farms, food processing facilities, equipment dealerships, and manufacturing operations all rely on skilled tradespeople. They need to ensure that equipment is repaired, electrical systems are wired, facilities operate safely, and new technology is installed and serviced.

 

Here are some common skilled trade careers that you will find within agriculture:

• Electrician / Electronics Technician
• Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Machine / Equipment Operator
• Mechanic
• Millwright
• Welder

 

These careers offer plenty of variety. Depending on which path you take, one day you may be repairing equipment in a shop, and the next day you could be travelling to a farm or a different customer location.

 

Build Skills for Your Future

Choosing a specific skilled trade doesn’t mean that you’re choosing one job for the rest of your life. The experience and technical skills that you will develop can help you to create opportunities to specialize, earn additional certifications, take on leadership roles, or explore other areas in the industry.

 

Working in the skilled trade can also be a good fit for people who enjoy seeing the results of their work. Whether you are getting a piece of equipment working again, installing a new system, or resolving a mechanical issue, your work can directly impact the people and businesses that depend on it.

 

Find the Right Path for You

Deciding on what to do after high school can feel like a major decision, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all path. College and university can provide great opportunities, but they aren’t the only way to build a rewarding and successful future.

 

If skilled trades sound like a path worth exploring for you, start by researching different trades, training requirements, and opportunities in your area. You may be surprised by the variety of careers available within the agriculture and food industry!

 

Ready to take a look and see what's out there? Explore Skilled Trade opportunities on AgCareers.com!